Days to Make History

Apparently little of interest happened this day in my history. I went to On This Day to see if there was an interesting historical reference to think and write about from the first year of my life. I got nothing. Well, today is Robin Wright Penn's (does she still use Penn-I'd have dropped it when I got rid of him) birthday, and a famous sculptor died at age 79. I went broader and found many references to buildings being blessed by popes, or named by Kings, but nothing that jumped out at me as a good story.

Yet, we make history, at least memories every day don't we? Jump on Twitter or Facebook, and perhaps I'll see some people making and capturing so many memories, they won't know what to hold onto later. Apparently I didn't make any memories last year on April 8, at least not captured in blog or social media, but in that week I went to a flower show, bought really discounted post Easter jelly beans, and was wished a Happy Sibling's Day by my youngest sister. Those are pretty good things.

A quiet weekend is planned. DD#2 either has a friend coming home with her or she's going there after play practice. I think I want to cook something for supper-maybe something rustic with chicken, and have a nice bottle of wine to go along with it. I've scheduled some purging time tomorrow and Sunday morning, and am planning an authentic (don't ask me yet what that will be) Minnesota dinner for our guest as my older daughter is heading back our way for the remaining days of R's trip. I'm not sure who else will be over on Saturday night to join us. It has been ridiculously cold for April, even for here, this last week, through Sunday it might get out of the 40's, so not going to mind having the oven on, and spending a lot of time in the kitchen. 

Ordinary days. Ordinary memories. History none the less. With the cold weekend, I might also give into my habits and imbibe a little television or movies. I love nostalgic movies about regular people making the best out of whatever means or situations that is presented to them. Here's a clip from one of my favorites, a Hallmark movie from about 10 years ago, and seems to go along with this ordinary post, a blip in history.

I Get To Be A Tourist

 

I hit the agree and submit button for a fall Washington DC trip for DH, DD#2, and me.  No business meetings, no late night taxi to the hotel following a three hour flight and an eight hour work day will be on the agenda.  I've been to DC more times than I can count, and while I have been able to quickly fit in a site or two on several of the trips, even managing a whole extra day last fall with DD#1, I've never been on vacation there.  I couldn't wish for more in my terms of travelling companions for five days in my nations capital.  While DD# 2 could go in an out of one of the Smithsonian's in less than an hour, I wonder if we will fit in all there is to see with my two history buffs. The Air and Space Museum will be no less than four hours-I am sure.

I've written before, we will need to really tighten the belts to ensure funds are free for the various trips we have planned in the next 14 months.  I was greatly aided by doing a quick promo code search and found a code for an extra $150 off a package for a four night minimum stay, exactly the number we are staying.  Not too shabby for a 60 second detour.  I was tempted to book one of the tours to make sure we really fit in all the monuments, but then decided "why bother?" I'd rather we have the opportunity to go slow and deep rather than wide and frantic.

Half the fun for me is in the planning of the trip. I will look forward to gathering Internet links for DD and DH to look at and picking up fact books, and reference materials from the library. I have a few old metro maps tucked in some old work binders to plan some routes, but now with the miracle of google maps, we can put in a starting and end point, as well as stops along the way, for walking or public transit. Still, the journey is part of the joy, so low tech will suit me fine for planning.  I do like the  street view interactive maps where you can drag the little avatar man to a specific location and there you are. I just caught a view of a few folks noshing on a slice from We the Pizza, one of my favorite stops on Pennsylvania Ave.

I'll probably prattle on a bit between now and October.  I am very excited about this because it will follow or precede a few markers in my families life. First, it will be my first real vacation since changing jobs.  While I will have many three day weekends because of a flex schedule, those should, will, be filled with the growing home project list.  Second, this will be the first break DD#2 will have had since starting  cross country training in August, and her first year of high school. Third, the trip is the month before I turn 50.  Seems fitting that I ring in the half century mark with a little history.  If you've been to Washington DC, what is your number one "don't miss" activity or site? What do you all have planned? Anyone else dive into the planning and design months before you actually step on the plane, train, car or boat?

 

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	(includes air, hotel, ground transport, airport parking, kennel, meals, snacks, entertainment)
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